News from around the league

Most times, a player leaves the Atlantic League for not-so-green pastures.
Some kick around the smaller independent leagues, their batting averages dipping with each move. Some find work in Italy, one step out of professional baseball. Others retire and find a job in corporate America.
So it’s always nice to see some of York’s alumni putting up solid numbers in another independent league. Retired at the start of last season, former Revolution slugger Kelly Hunt (pictured above) resurfaced in the Frontier League last season. He signed with the Wichita Wingnuts in the American Association this season.
And yes, for all those Falcons fans out there — and we have several — Hunt starred in college for Bowling Green.

* The joke in New York in 1978 was that Mike Torrez pitched the Yankees into the World Series for the second straight year. Torrez won the World Series with the Bronx Bombers in 1977. Pitching for Boston in 1978, he surrendered the Bucky Dent home run in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park. Here is a Daily Newsarticle explaining why Torrez has joined the Newark Bears coaching staff after stepping away from baseball in 1984.
* Vince Perkins may have received more attention for his role with Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Perkins appeared in seven games for the Camden Riversharks last season … but another Atlantic League alum slid under the radar.
* Sports Illustrated reporter Tom Verducciexplains how a man with a name like Chris Cooper could pitch for Italy. York fans may have forgotten about Cooper, who pitched for York’s inaugural Trailer Trash team. Initially selected to appear in the All-Star Game, Cooper turned down the offer because he had already made plans for the All-Star Game break. He left York before the end of the season to return home to take college classes. Cooper pitched last season in Italy. Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone usually waits for former players to contact him if they need a job, and he has not heard from Cooper since he left York. After seeing the cramped trailers used for clubhouses in 2007, who could blame him?
* And in case anyone was wondering, Jimmy Scott informs readers on his blog that Shea Hillenbrand doesn’t want to go the independent route again. Who would have guessed that Hillenbrand thought he was too good for the Atlantic League? Umm, OK everyone. You can put your hands down now.

About Jim Seip

Jim Seip wore a cookie monster costume to help close out the Spectrum on Oct. 31, 2009.